Distant Moon

Through the grasses you can see, a Distant Moon.

Encaustic and image transfer   6" x 12" (C) gls POR

Oil and Wax...

I completed and framed yet another oil and wax painting. 

I used the Gamblin cold wax and Rembrandt oils on this piece. 

They 'married' nicely. 

The textural effects are so interesting!

Western Sky (C) oil and wax     8" x 16"    POR

I also framed this piece, 

Bent Mountain Spring oil and wax,  8" x 16" POR. 

More Finds....

I found two more paintings that my mother has painted!

This tempera painting was done by mum when she was in her teens. It reminds me of an O'Keefe...I found it in an old sketchbook and just recently had it matted and framed. I thought this was ironic as I had always loved Georgia O'Keefe and mum did not know who she was when she painted this. 

Mum took art lessons way up on Sheep Mountain from an artist by the name of George Solonevich. He and his wife Inga were very gracious and offered lessons in their mountain 'school'. This style differs from her original style, which I liked so much better. Many years later, ionically, I never took art lessons from George, but I rented a cabin (Mystila) from him in the 70's. 


I am hoping that, while she can, she will get back into the charcoal and draw.

More Playing....

More Encaustics on these pieces....

Bird in the Hand Encaustic and mixed media 9" x 6" each, (C), POR

Playing....

Abundance  (C) monotype, collage, mixed media 12" x 9" POR

I have been just playing. No two results, mediums, nor thoughts have been the same. I have discovered that the Gamblin cold wax is firmer, thus winning my complete attention for finishing these collages. 


As a result of playing, I have found tar gel as a grand acrylic medium, as well as the fiber paste. I am going to experiment further with the cold wax, making four panels of an abstract later today. I will post the results later.

Mysterious Night (C) monotype, collage, mixed media 9" x 6" POR

        Life Cycle   (C) monotype, collage, mixed media 9" x 6" POR

Queen Of Bees (C) monotype, collage, mixed media  9" x 6" POR

Saturday Workshop

Today there was an exciting workshop demonstrated by Suzanna Fields at Hollins University. She introduced us to all the various Golden mediums, acrylics, and inks. Many folks brought their own interesting items to 'play' with. Watching the inks, mediums, and acrylics flow was magical!


Days like this are carefree and spontaneous, something we often forget to do, in life and in art. Great comrade and creative spirit was everywhere.
Here are some of the images from the workshop.

To see Suzanna's work, check out her site....

Suzanna Fields

 Spring Grasses (C) gls 11" x 14"

Whispering to the Clouds  (C) gls 14" x 17"

Winter Mountains  (C) gls  11" x 14"

Treasures

My mother loved painting and drawing, as did her father;  I remember many times when she was painting and drawing when I was young. (My brother and I were fascinated by this and she encouraged us to explore the arts and music.) She did several tempera paintings and oils, yet she preferred charcoal drawing.  Unfortunately, most of her drawings and paintings are gone (given away or misplaced).


My brother was cleaning out boxes of things in his attic and "WALLA!", found the cat charcoal drawing she was the most proud of. I was sitting with her the other night when he walked in the door with it. It made us so happy to see the expression on her face.

The photo does not do it justice, but here it is. What a treasure!

I am hoping to sort through my hiding places to see what I can find...I know I have some more of her work someplace!  I will post them as I find them. 

Against the Wind

    This early winter morning I woke, made the morning coffee as usual. The warm rising sun peered over the hill and through the window to where I sat sipping my fresh brew. The turbulent wind was howling bringing the temperature down to about 26 degrees here in the hollow. I sat amazed as the birds were able to fly against the wind, with the wind and coast to their destinations. They are amazing....

Against the Wind, an ink drawing on recycled paper 

was created with tis feeling in mind. 

New Works- Oil and Cold Wax

     Last summer I began experimenting with Encaustics, painting with melted wax and pigments. I have tried it a dew times since, and I adore the sensual feeling of the medium, as well as the numerous ways to work with the medium. It is amazingly forgiving to work with!


     Time constraints have been limiting my ability to work with the Encaustics, so after a little research, I ordered a medium called 'cold wax'. Dorland's and Gamblin both make it. Last weekend, I tried the Dorland's first. I mixed it with various amounts of cold wax, experimenting to see how it best worked for me. 

"Dancing Leaves" (C) gls oil and cold wax   8" x 16"   POR

     Beginning with the wax, oils, and q-tips to paint with, I layered on dots of color, painted broad strokes of paint, and used my fingers to blend color straight on the substrate (which, like Encaustic, has to be sturdy). while I am in the stages of experimenting with this medium, I was pleased with as few of the pieces, so far. There are so many ways to handle the medium, and I plan to explore them all. I plan on brayering, laminating, stamping, carving, and drawing into the cold wax layers to see what happens with each tool. 

   

"Bent Mountain Spring" (C) gls oil and cold wax   8" x 16"   

POR

     For now, the cold wax is similar to Encaustic, but I interpret it a tad differently than the typical hot wax mediums. Now, I am just hoping for time to further my experiments. Any ideas, or suggestions would be appreciated!

Last weekend I finally had a day to work in the studio. It was heavenly. Being able to loose yourself in paint, ink, and thought works wonders for the soul. 

"Caged Window 2" 

ink drawing on recycled paper (C) gls

Merry Christmas

“Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart. 

To a customer, service. 

To all, charity. 

To every child, a good example. 

To yourself, respect.” ~ Oren Arnold

Christmas greeting from a letter written by Italian friar and painter Giovanni da Fiesole (Fra Angelico) 1387-1455:

“I salute you. I am your friend, and my love for you goes deep.
There is nothing I can give you which you have not already, but there is much, very much, which though I cannot give it, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today.

Take heaven.
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this precious little instant.
Take peace.
The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach is joy. There is radiance and courage in the darkness could we but see; and to see, we have only to look.

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their coverings, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard.
Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, and wisdom, and power.
Welcome it, greet it, and you touch the angel’s hand that brings it.
Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, a duty, believe me, that angel’s hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing Presence.
Our joys, too, be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.

Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty beneath its covering, that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage, then, to claim it, that is all! But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims wending through unknown country our way home.

And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you, not quite as the world sends greeting, but with profound esteem now and forever.
The day breaks and the shadows flee away.”

Winter

View from Bent Mountain 3.75 x 3" watercolor and gouache (C) gls

Winter is here. 

Christmas is around the corner. 

2011 is knocking on our doors. 

Wishing everyone  a safe, healthy, and peaceful season. 

Mother Nature

Sometimes, there is nothing to say...

listen to and observe nature's beauty. 

Afternoon by the Creek  Altered Photograph (C) gls

(click on the image to enlarge.)

Commission Work The Bear Hunting Dogs

The Bear Hunting Dogs  
oil 8x10 inches

A co-worker, petite and cute, goes bear hunting in Craig county on her free weekends with her boyfriend. She enjoys it so much and just loves the hunting dogs. These are the first two of the dogs she commissioned me to paint for her boyfriends birthday. I have to say, I really enjoyed doing something different, and something in oil. 

Autumn Sunset

"Autumn Sunset" 6" x 8"
Monotype on clayboard (POR) no reasonable offers refused!


I am making way to create new pieces and am offering reasonable offers on selected works for a limited time. Last year, I had the online "Yart Sale". This year I thought I would try something a little different. 

If you are interested, make an offer, or offer for a barter, etc. Please contact me via email if interested. Thanks!

Celebrate the Parkway!

Next weekend should be another beautiful day! 

Come on up to Floyd and enjoy the music and art!

Ah Flowers...

More flower photos...

'Datura 3' (C) gls POR

'Water Lettuce and Clouds' (C) gls POR

'Peony 2' (C) gls POR

'Seedlings' (C) gls POR

Artful Flowers- Altered Photographs

About to Bloom (C) gls

Water Hyacinth (C) gls

Phlox (C) gls

Lunaria (C) gls

Limelight (C) gls

McCormick Farm, oil 6 x 8

(c) gls

More Altered Flower Photos...

Datura (C) gls POR

Familiar (C) gls POR

Water Lettuce (C) gls POR

Water Hyacinth 1 (C) gls POR

Lamb's Ears (C) gls POR

Hydrangea (C) gls POR

Phlox 1 (C) gls POR

Phlox 2 (C) gls POR

Datura 2 (C) gls POR

Crocosmia (C) gls POR